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How to Spread Kindness in Your Child’s School This Year

Random Acts of Kindness | Sep 16, 2016

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Random Acts ofKindnessSep 16, 2016

The kids are back in school and you’re wondering where the summer went. So many things you wanted to do. So many plans that changed. That’s ok! This is the perfect time to get yourself back on track and set some ‘goals to be greater’ throughout the school year. Here are 10 ideas to get you going.

1. Host a ‘thank you’ breakfast for teachers this week.

What better way to start the school year off than by thanking your child’s teacher for all their hard work and dedication? Why do we always wait until the end of the year to thank them? Let’s do it right away!

2. Write a ‘thank you’ letter to your child’s teacher.

No time to make a whole breakfast? No worries! Hand-writing a thank you note is incredibly meaningful and lets your child’s teacher know that you appreciate them and want to support them.

3. Volunteer to help clean a classroom or do another chore to free up a teacher’s time.

Even if you aren’t the PTA President, you can probably find an hour or two to head to the school and help a teacher with some of the mundane tasks that keep them there late each day. They will appreciate it more than you know.

4. Volunteer during the morning rush and hold up signs reminding people to be nice to each other.

It may sound silly, but we all need a reminder sometimes. A visual reminder is a great way to get other parents (and school staff) smiling in the morning.

5. Give a gift card to your child’s teacher. It could be for classroom supplies or just for fun!

Teachers are ALWAYS going out-of-pocket for school supplies. A nice way to show how much you appreciate them is by sharing the load. Give a gift card or ask them what they’re in need of and go out and buy some supplies for them!

6. Smile.

Easy. Free. Always a winner.

7. Put treats or fun notes in staff mailboxes.

Even a chocolate kiss can make someone’s day. Slip secret treats in the mail slots at school (make sure you give the front desk staff a double portion.)

8. Help your child make a positive sign to hang on a door at school.

Visual inspiration is always a great way to share the love. Grab some markers, stickers, glitter and paper and get going!

9. Send a letter to the principal praising your student’s teacher.

People often make the effort to complain about people, but they rarely take the time to share compliments. Let’s change that.

10. Offer to take over a class for an afternoon.

You can play a game, read a book to the class or do another fun activity to give teachers a bit of a break. Get creative!

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, also known as ‘RAK’, is a foundation that believe that the world will be a significantly better place if we encourage the spread of kindness in schools, communities, and homes. They work with teachers, parents, and youth leaders to provide resources for kindergarten through high school students. This includes free lessons plans, kindness clubs, posters, project ideas, and more.

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Random Acts of Kindness

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Parent Toolkit provides parents with a comprehensive guide to helping their children succeed in school and life, whether they’re just starting out in pre-school or preparing their college applications. It is produced by NBC News Learn and supported by Pearson.